Disclaimer:

Q: Do you want me to give you the rights to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings, making you, the omnipotent author of your time?

MornieGalad: No, I won't. I must resist the temptation.

Q: Good, because I won't do it. Ha, ha, ha!

MornieGalad: You see . . .

Q: She still owns nothing. Someone give her something so she doesn't have to waste my time writing these disclaimers.

MornieGalad: The longer you ramble about how I don't own anything, the longer it takes to get to the story.

Q: Oh, my ego. Shut up then, MornieGalad. I'm in the spotlight now.

Chapter Seven: Q-Lodgings Part I

As the sun was setting, Bilbo put the finishing touches on Frodo and Wesley's night time supplies. He was acting like a mother, making certain each of them had their toothbrush, hairbrush, pillow, and plenty of blankets, but neither Frodo nor Wesley minded. Finally, Bilbo sighed and looked them both over.

"Come, I'll walk with you." They set out, one on either side of Bilbo. "I want you both to be happy tonight. Goodness knows how long it will be until you are again this safe." Neither of his companions knew what to say to this. They passed into the twilight in silence. It seemed as if the rest of the fellowship was awaiting them. Aragorn lay on his back, gazing up at the stars. Pippin, Merry, and Sam were roasting marshmallows on a fire provided by Q. Gimli was eying Legolas suspiciously and the elf was leaning against a tree in silence. Gandalf and Q were both enjoying the firelight and seemed to be exchanging tales. Boromir . . . Where was Boromir? Frodo's eyes darted around for a glimpse of the human, but didn't see him. At that moment, a spark from the fire flew in Legolas's direction. He tried to dodge it, but to no avail. It made contact with a strand of hair. Aragorn jumped to his feet and rushed to find water, but Gandalf was quicker. In an instant, the fire had been extinguished, but about a quarter of the elf's hair had been reduced to an ashy grey a foot shorter than it had been. Across the fire, Gimli snickered and the elf glared at him. Gimli paid him no heed.

"I've got it!" Aragorn declared, rushing in on the scene. Before anyone could stop him, he dumped a jugful of water on Legolas's head. Even Gandalf couldn't help chuckling silently at the sight of the drenched elf. Gimli, of course, was rolling with laughter.

"No harm done," Q said, between laughs. He snapped his fingers and Legolas's clothes were dry. His hair remained the same, though.

"Oh, where, oh, where has Boromir gone?" sang Q, obviously to draw attention away from Legolas. He disappeared and appeared seconds later, Boromir in hand. "He was trying to climb a tree. Maybe I should fly with him."

"I can't help it. I live up really high. I like heights."

"The higher you are, the further you fall," Aragorn commented.

"You had better not mean what I believe you meant by that," Boromir growled threateningly.

"Peace, Aragorn, Boromir."

"Can you boys please try to get along?" Q pleaded. "Now, no more fighting."

"But we need to learn how to use your swords," Pippin whined.

"Tomorrow!" Q, Legolas, Sam, Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, and Frodo yelled in unison. Gimli just laughed even more.

"Come have a s'more, Mr. Frodo," said Sam.

"Oh, but having each of us roasting our own little marshmallows is hardly considered family bonding," Q whined. Suddenly, there appeared in the sky an enormous white figure, heralded with song. It slowly, gracefully, descended through the trees right onto Gimli.

"Oof!" grunted the dwarf. Q clapped his hands twice.

"Lets go! Family bonding time! Let's roast the marshmallow!"

"Get it off me!" Gimli hollered.

"Patience, Master Dwarf, everything has to be in order."

"Confound the order, get it off!"

"Now, now, now, if we dismissed order, you would be born before you were conceived and you would think before you talked. Think what a disaster that would be. No, no, no, you cannot mess up your frail little mind by going out of order."

"Huh?" said Pippin.

"See! That proves my point. Someone get a tree down while I keep the captive company."

"Just how are we supposed to get a tree!" demanded Aragorn.

"Use your imagination," was Q's reply.

"Boromir, Aragorn, use your swords," Legolas directed. All eyes turned.

"You actually want him free?" Aragorn asked. "I'm surprised."

"Expect the unexpected, Aragorn," yelled Q. "I'm glad to see someone can think after dark." Boromir and Aragorn positioned themselves on opposite sides of a large tree.

"Can I help?" Pippin begged.

"No!" shouted the majority of the fellowship.

"Yes!" shouted Gimli.

"You're placing your fate in the hands of a hobbit!" yelled Gandalf.

"We already did. Do the operation, Doctor."

"I think the blood's going to his head," yelled Q.

"More likely he's going into a sugar coma," commented Legolas.

"He'll eat himself out!" yelled Pippin.

"I doubt it," Q replied.

"Timber!" hollered Aragorn as the tree collapsed between two lines of people that formed at about the same instant. The lines pulled the tree forward into the marshmallow.

"Yeah!" yelled Q. "Now we need a fire, since the enormous marshmallow seems to have put the other one out." Snap! A huge fire was lit. "Okay, you can put it down now," Q said, moving the marshmallow to float atop the fire. Gimli jumped up and ran behind Boromir, looked up, and darted behind Gandalf.

"Very sugary," he whimpered, twirling in circles.

"It's done," announced Q. The Hobbits raced to the marshmallow.

"Toasty!" Merry whispered in awe.

"Yummy!" whispered Pippin.

"Gooey!" Frodo sighed.

"Scrumdidlyumptious!" Sam sang. The other three looked strangely at him for a second, shrugged, and continued eating.

"Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka, dodododododo" Gimli sang, still twirling in circles. He paused for a second, then, stiff as a board, fell to the ground fast asleep.

"One down, eight to go," thought Gandalf. "Q doesn't sleep."

So what do you think. I was thinking of switching this to Lord of the Rings. Let me know. Any input is welcome and appreciated. MornieGalad